Through The Pieces by Bobbi Jo Bentz

me. He brought his hand up and I thought he was going to touch me, but then he hesitated and his hand dropped to his side.
    "Claire, is Maggie okay with me spending the day with you two?" He almost sounded shy and unsure.
    "I asked her earlier and she said it was a good idea. Besides, she’ll be busy with her iPad and the kitten." I took a step closer to him. There was only a mere inch between our bodies. Our eyes met and my breath quickened under his gaze. I reached to touch his lips, hesitating at his sharp intake of breath. His head moved to meet my fingertips, and the heat from his lips sent shivers down my body. He placed a soft kiss on my hand and closed his eyes tightly. The power I felt by being able to give him this much pleasure made me almost dizzy. I wanted to explore every inch of his body. I wanted him to touch and feel every part of my body and soul. My body clenched in anticipation and the thought of him naked.
    "Mommy? Pippi is thirsty." Maggie called. I instantly backed a safe distance away from Buck.
    "I have a bowl of water and food in the kitchen for her." I put a hand up to my chest and could feel the feel my heart’s rapid beat. Buck’s intense stare pinned me in place.

Chapter 13
    Claire
    We all sat down to eat. Maggie and Buck exchanged stories, each trying to top the other. They continued to one-up each other, and I was transfixed by their easy conversation. Maggie was truly happy; I was truly happy. After our meal, Buck helped store the leftovers, load the dishwasher, and then wiped off the table, Maggie never far from his side. I couldn't deny how nice it felt to have someone help me and take the time to talk with Maggie. He would be a wonderful father someday . Wow, where did that thought come from? I mean, I liked him and he liked me, but it didn’t mean I wanted to marry him, did it? That was just me being crazy, right? Get it together, Claire. You just kissed him, he isn't going to get down on one knee. He probably would think I was crazy if he could hear my thoughts. Okay, movie time.
    We made a bed of blankets on the floor, and I grabbed all the pillows and put them down. Maggie put in A Christmas Story, and I was about to take a seat on the floor next to Buck when she plopped down between us. Maggie tried to get Pippi to sit with her but the kitten was having too much fun adapting to its new home to sit still for any length of time. I was feeling utterly happy today. It had been one of the nicest Christmas days that I’d had in recent years. During the movie, I would occasionally sneak glances at Buck, then quickly turn back to the television when he looked my way.
    Maggie must have noticed and she stared at me like I was sprouting a second head. "Mommy, why do you keep looking at Buck?"
    Darn, I’d been caught.
    "Oh, I was a looking for the kitten." I congratulated myself on my quick thinking.
    "No, you keep looking at Buck."
    Crap. "Well--I--I was making sure he liked the movie." Yeah, that's right. I chanced a look at Buck and the smirk on his face proved how wrong I was. Double crap .
    "I think you're right, Maggie. She was looking at me," he chimed in.
    "That's the same thing Rose does when she likes someone. I think Mommy likes you. Do you like her Buck?"
    Hello, I am sitting here. I am sitting here, and I definitely want to exit this conversation.
    "Yes I do, Maggie. Is that okay with you? I mean I like you, too, and I would like to see both of you more. I guess what I am saying is to both of you...I really want to be part of your lives." He was embarrassed--I could tell by the way he was rubbing his hand on the back of his neck.
    "Okay. I think Mommy likes you, too. Do you like Buck, Mommy?"
    All eyes were on me. My face must have turned ten shades of red. "Yes I do." I looked down at my hands as my daughter, the matchmaker, continued.
    "Well, then you are boyfriend and girlfriend," she said with a bright smile. A glance at Buck revealed a smile spreading across his face. He